October Sky

by Homer Hickam | Grades 9-12 | Lexile 900

In 1957, young Homer Hickam discovers the power of his dreams as he builds his own rocket. His hope, supported by his mother and his teacher, is that his rocket will be his way out of the West Virginia mining town that is quickly dying around them. His dream is realized when after winning a gold medal at the National Science Fair in 1960, Hickam grows up to be a NASA engineer. This is a moving, inspiring, and readable memoir — and a great way to incorporate book-length non-fiction into your literature program.